Virtual Reality in Your Vehicle – Exploring Advanced New Vehicle Technologies

Flying cars might not yet be mainstream, but as developments in the electric and autonomous vehicle industries progress globally, the future of driving is set to look very different.

The convenience and ease of charging your vehicle from home mean no petrol station stops, constantly setting off with a full battery and no more guilt from generating significant emissions with fuel combustion.

Drivers can feel good knowing they are making a sustainable choice when doing everyday commutes, and the smooth driving experience enabled by having no gears to change is enough to make anyone want to pop out for a drive. As Tesla has gained dominance as a market leader within the electric vehicle industry in recent years, other companies will do all they can to keep up.

But what if cars of the future could feel like an extension of the living room? Vehicles with autonomous qualities exist today, with hands-free steering wheels and advanced hazard perception. By 2030, ultimately, autonomous vehicles could be making their way to people’s homes, drastically changing the future of driving.

Summoning an autonomous vehicle to precise locations will take whistling the dog to a new level, as cars can respond to demand and arrive precisely when and where they are told without needing a driver.

This presents opportunities for even more emerging technology, such as quantum sensors known as atomic clocks, that use a connection to satellites around the planet and latency calculations to position themselves in precise locations within just centimetres of accuracy.

As autonomy develops in different stages, it will be increasingly possible to touch up makeup on the way to work, take a scenic lunch break with a book, or be driven to sleep. In-car entertainment will also be possible by installing highly developed automotive displays, which use micro-LEDs to ensure the best quality and brightest displays for passengers to receive information directly in front of them.

Windscreens and side windows could act as cinemas or touchscreens to play games and browse the web while offering a semi-transparent annotated view of the street to enjoy entertainment while engaging with the moving world outside the car.

IDTechEx’s report “Automotive Displays 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Opportunities” delves deeper into these features and explores market predictions and intricate technologies that make them possible.

Companies like Audi seek to take these possibilities further by developing virtual reality within their cars, bringing gaming and fun to ordinary experiences and a modernised aesthetic to the car’s interior. Who wouldn’t want to take a mini holiday from their seat in the car?

Future vehicles will also be able to look after humans and prioritise their safety inside the car. Pontosense is developing monitors to detect heartbeats and movements of children left in the vehicle and will be able to see the driver’s welfare, checking for potential signs of intoxication, stress, or tiredness.

These advancements can potentially reduce accidents and prevent the cost of mistakes so people can feel safe in their cars.

Electric cars are already providing exciting new driving experiences, which will only improve with the introduction of autonomous vehicles. Journeys will be something to get excited about as an opportunity to relax and recharge while travelling to a desired destination.

The safety features and entertainment possibilities within these future vehicles ensure that cars will be a place for every passenger to feel comfortable and secure.